Newcastle Jets end Brisbane Roar reign in wet

BRISBANE has lost top spot on the A-League ladder after being beaten 2-1 by the resurgent Jets in a physical clash at a sodden Hunter Stadium in Newcastle.

The wet conditions were not conducive to Brisbane's attacking style but the visitors managed to take the lead late in the first half after a low drive from Luke Brattan ricocheted off 'keeper Mark Birighitti who had gone to ground after punching the ball clear of the goal.

The 1-0 half-time score left the home side needing to break a 59-game A-League hoodoo to take the points.

In that stretch, Newcastle had never won after trailing at the break - drawing nine times and losing the other 50.

Adam Taggart set about fixing that statistic, stealing the ball off Roar defender Matt Smith before chipping over 'keeper Michael Theo to equalise in the 51st minute.

The Jets hit the front in the 75th minute when Taggart scored his second, firing a left-foot bullet into the top left corner after an attempted clearance from James Donachie stopped dead in the danger area thanks to pools of water.

Brisbane was given a late advantage when Kew Jaliens was sent off for abusing referee Jarred Gillett but was unable to capitalise.